This week I was trying to get tickets for my gf and I to visit her family in California next week. AA.com was showing a fare of $560, but on Expedia the fare was $270. So I call the PLT desk and they quote me the AA.com fare. I ask what the fare basis is and they say Q, so I ask are there any N fares left (the Expedia one is booked in N). Lo and behold there are, and the fare is now $265. I call web services and explain that I can't find the fare the PLT desk quoted me on AA.com and he goes ahead and tickets the reservation and gives my gf and I the 1K booking bonus, which immediately posts to our account as "Customer Relations." Is AA great or what?

Questions:
-Has anyone else ever tried this?
-How generalizable is this? I.e. AA.com and the agents quote you a fare higher than Expedia, but when you ask for the fare code that expedia is in they find a much lower fare?